Aerosol dispensing apparatus



United States Patent O 3,292,827 AEROSOL DISPENSING APPARATUS `lohn Frangos, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Revlon, Inc., New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 333,123

. 9 Claims. (Cl. Z22-402.24)

This invention relates to dispensing uids from pressure containers under the propelling action of a gas or other propellent within the container and, more particularly, to an arrangement whereby the rate of ow of such pressure dispensing can readily be controlled by the operator to a plurality of different rates from the same container.

As will be understood, a wide variety of materials may be dispensed from pressurized containers under the action of gaseous or vaporizable propellent therein as with the so-called aerosol types of packaging. Generally in situations of this character, the material to be dispensed is admixed with a propellent (gas or highly volatile liquid, etc.) in a sealed container having a valved eduction tube therein whereby opening the valve provides for the propellent to force the material to be dispensed up the eduction tube and out of the container. Such a wide variety of materials are now packaged in this manner-including such widely different products as shaving foam, plastic foams, pigmented paints and lacquers, hair sprays and dyes, insect repellents, perfumes, medicaments, ete-that it is obviously necessary or desirable to accommodate the valving mechanism to different types of materials, and with particular regard to the viscosities or pigmentation of the material, the quantity or rate of flow desired, and such similar considerations.

Even with such conventional coordination of designed considerations, however, the valve mechanism controlling the dispensing or pressure ejection of the material in the container for any particular type of material is generally of the on-oif type. Especially in such valve constructions which are desirably of as small size as possible and where the outlet orice is necessarily desirably quite small in order to emit a tine spray of material (e.g., with such commodities as hairset sprays, etc.), considerable difficulty may be experienced if it is attempted to provide in the valving arrangement means for controlling the ow rate of the spray to different rates. Even if it were conceivable for the user of the device to depress or open the valve or outlet orifice only part way in order to obtain a less-than-maximum ejection stream or rate, the difculty of readily accomplishing such line control is manifest when it is recalled that the outlet orifice of the valve is usually of almost pinpoint size and actually invisible or hidden when the apparatus is in use.

Nevertheless, there may be a variety of uses or applications for such aerosol dispensing apparatus where it is desired for the user readily to obtain two or more different flow rates for the material being ejected or dispensed. As purely illustrative of such possible applications, one may note certain cosmetic preparations, hair sprays, sprayable surgical dressings, and even paints or lacquers Where it might 'be helpful or desirable for the user to obtain a rather intense spray or high ow rate at one time and a much reduced ow rate at another time for the purpose of, for example, spraying the entire head of hair with a setting spray at one moment and then providing a much smaller quantity just to catch a few loose ends, or obtaining maximum ow and intensity to cover a'large area, while later desiring only a much smaller spray to touch up a small area. Thus, such versatility of application or use may be diicult to obtain when the only control the user has is the length of time the valve is opened and/ or when only a single rate of ow or the maximum rate of ow occurs whenever the valve is opened.

3,292,827 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 ICC According to this invention, however, there are provided arrangements of apparatus in such aerosol dispenser valving mechanisms for obtaining selectively any of a plurality of different dispensing flow rates from a single container and which can be readily selected by the user to provide the desired variety of ejection quantity or flow intensity, either as a plurality of distinct stepwise variations or a continuous variation from maximum to minimum flow; and, as a further feature of this invention, means are provided permitting the user to select any of the available different flow rates by touch alone during actual operation of the valve and notwithstanding the fact that the apparatus may be held or used at that moment in some position in which it is not readily visible to the user (as by spraying the back of the -users own head, etc.).

With the foregoing and additional objects in mind, this invention will now be explained in more detail, and other objects and advantages hereof Vwill be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view with parts broken away showing apparatus embodying and for practicing this invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial section on a somewhat larger scale through the valving apparatus of FIG. 1 taken on the line 2 2 thereof and with the valve in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the valve opened to a rst or low flow rate position; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the valve opened to a second or high flow rate position.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof, one form of apparatus embodying and for practicing this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as comprising a pressurized container 10 in which is contained the material to be dispensed and a propellent therefor, in known manner, and including a sealed top closure 11 in which is supported valve mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 12 and described in more detail hereafter. Valve 12 includes a valve stem 13, penetrating through top 11 of container 10 and carrying an operating cap 14 thereon with a dispensing nozzle 15 therein. Depressing cap 14 by finger pressure opens valve 12 and permits material within container 10 to be pressure ejected up eduction tube 16 and out dispensing nozzle 15, all as will be under stood and in generally known manner.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2-4, valve 12 is illustrated as comprising a hollow valve body 20 having a reduced diameter inlet port or nipple 21, for accommodating the upper end of eduction tube 16, and a re- 1 silient seal 22 at the upper end of valve body 20 and in sealing engagement around stem 13. Valve stem 13 is provided at the lower end thereof with an enlarged cylindrical portion 25 forming an abuttment against which a spring 26 acts to bias portion 25 and valve stem 13 into the upper or closed position of FIG. 2, but against which valve stem 13 may be forced downwardly into one or another of the open positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. Below portion 25 is a reduced diameter vportion 30 and a smaller axially extending pin 31 engaging an annular spacer or i washer 32, which in turn is urged upwardly by the action the valve stem is depressed to the point illustrated in FIG. 3 forms a readily sensible signal to the users linger.

When the valving arrangement is in the closed position of FIG. 2, as will be apparent from the foregoing, the container is sealed and no material is allowed to pass upwardly through eduction tube 16 or outwardly through valve stem 13. When, however, valve stem 13 is depressed to the position indicated in FIG.- 3, outlet port 38 in the side of valve stern 1'3 is moved below the vbottom or inner side of seal 22, thus permitting passage of pressurized material up eduction tube 16, through the inside of valve body 20, and, via outlet port 38, up hollow valve stem 13 and lout discharge nozzle 15 in cap 14 to produce the desired dispensing spray or ow.

When cap 14 Iand valve stern 13 are further depressed to the position shown in FIG. 4, an additional outlet port 39, previously sealed in the positions of FIGS. 2 and 3, is moved out of sealing engagement with seal 22 to provide a further communication between the inside of hollow valve body 20 and hollow valve stem 13, thus enlarg-V ing the effective area of ow communication from the interior of container and valve body 20 to the atmosphere through hollow valve stern 13.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, if outlet openings 38 and 39 were both the same size, the iiow rate out of the dispensing -apparatus in the position of FIG. 4 (with both outlet ports communicating between valve -body 20 and valve stem 13) Awould be twice that of the arrangement in FIG. 3 when only outlet port 38 was permitting ejection of material vfrom container 10. In the same manner, by providing upper valve port 39 of a different size -or cross sectional area than lower port 38 (or by providing a diterent number of upper ports 39 than lower ports 38) permits a virtual infnitude of different or relative ow rates as between the position illustrated in FIG. 3 and that in FIG. 4. Furthermore, providing an axial slot extending between ports 38 and 39, instead of the axially spaced individual ports, gives further versatility as permitting a gradual variation in the open effective ow area communicating between the interior of valve body 20 and valve stem 13 for the ejection of material to be dispensed therethrough.

As will also be apparent from the foregoing, particularly in instances where the desired difference or variation in ow rate is readily discernable merely from observing the spray -being ejected or dispensed through nozzle 15, the provision of spring 35 and washer 32, etc., may not be necessary, especially in constructions where a fairly substantial axial yspacing is provided-between the several ports 38, 39 so that the proper extent of depressing valve stem 13 may be found lby visual observation. Nevertheless, the illustrated construction is prefelred Ias providing a tangible indication readily felt by the users finger when valve stem 13 has been depressed sufficiently to bring only port 38 but not 39 into ow communication between valve body 20 and stern 13 to obtain the predetermined lower flow rate, with the higher being used under circumstances where the actual spray` being ejected is not readily observable, land with all the foregoing being accomplished by apparatus which is relatively simple and economic of manufacture and can be accommodated within the size or compass generally conventional for dispensing valve mechanism in conventional aerosol containers of various sizes. For example, even with the multiple spring sensing arrangement as illustrated, such structure can be accommodated without substantially or inordinately increasing the diameter of the valving arrangement, but only increasing somewhat the axial extent, which is of no particular consequence in a conventional spray container and/or the conventional closures or packaging machinery associated therewith.

While the forms of apparatus described herein are preferred embodiments of this invention, this invention is not limited to these precise forms of lapparatus and modi-` lications may be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What isl claimed is: Y

1. In dispensing valve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a fluid from a pressure container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of different dispensing flow rates, the combination which comprises means for mounting said valve apparatus at the top of said container, a valve stem extending from inside said container to the outside thereof, said valve stem being i axially movable from an open dispensing position in which stem is partially depressed within said container` to a closed position in which said valve stem extends out of said container, an axial flow passage in said valve adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed within said container, -a plurality of spaced outlet ports in said valve stem and disposed adjacent said inner end flow rate being readily obtained merely :by depressing i valve stem 13 farther.

As will also be apparent, a selection of specifically different ow rates greater than the two indicated in the drawings are also readily comprehended within this invention merely by providing additional axially spaced outlet ports in stem 13, each of whichis sequentially brought into flow communication between the inside of valve body 20 and the hollow stem 13 communicating with the `atmosphere so that, with the moving of each successive outlet port out of sealing engagement with seal 22, the effective opencross sectional flow area of communication between the inside of valve body 20 and hollow valve stem 13 is increased in stepwise fashion thus to increase the rate of flow of material therethrough to virtually any extent desired up to whatever maximum is permitted by the sizes of the hollow passage in valve stem 13 .and of dispensing nozzle 15 in cap 14.

thereof in flow communication with said axial passage,`

said ports being disposed and spaced on said valve stem to be sequentially brought into ow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage as said valve stem is depressed into said open dispensing position and sequentially closed as said valve stem `is t moved axially outwardly into closed position, and a plut rality of biasing means for increasing tangibly in stepwise manner the force necessary to depress said valve stem before said valve stem is sufficiently depressed within said container to open each successive said outlet port for ow therethrough of uid from within said container.` through said port and out said passageY in said valve stem.

2. In dispensing v-alve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a vfluid from a pressure container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of A valve stem having -an outer end forming a discharge opening for uid dispensed from said container and an inner end adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed within said container, a plurality of spaced outlet ports in said valve stem and disposed adjacent said inner end thereof in ow communication with said axial passage, said ports being disposed and spaced on said valve stem to be sequentially brought into flow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage as said valve stem is depressed into said open dispensing position and sequentially closed as said valve stem is moved axially outwardly into closed position, first biasing means within said container for urging said valve stern outwardly, and second biasing means for increasing tangibly in step-wise manner the force necessary to depress said valve stern against said biasing means before said valve stem is suiciently depressed within said lcontainer to open each successive said outlet port for flow therethrough of uid from within said container through said port and out said passage in said valve stem.

3. In dispensing valve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a fluid from a pressure container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of different dispensing ilow rates, the combination which cornprises means for mounting said valve apparatus at the top of said container and including resilient sealing means, a valve stem penetrating said sealing means and extending from inside said container to the outside thereof, said valve stern being axially movable with respect to said sealing means from an open dispensing position in which said stem is partially depressed within said container to a closed position in which said valve stem extends out of said container, an axial ow passage in said valve stem having an outer end forming a discharge opening for fluid dispensed from said container and an inner end adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed within said container, a plurality of axially spaced outlet ports in said valve stem and disposed adjacent said inner end thereof in ow communication with said axial passage, said ports being axially disposed and spaced on said valve stem to be sequentially brought into flow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage as said valve stem is depressed into said open dispensing position and sequentially closed by said resilient sealing means as said Valve stem is moved axially outwardly into closed position, first biasing means for urging said valve stem outwardly, and second biasing means for increasing tangibly in step-wise manner the force necessary to depress said valve stem against said biasing means before said valve stern is sufficiently depressed within said container to open each successive said outlet port for flow therethrough of uid from within said container through said port and out said passage in said valve stem.

4. In dispensing valve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a fluid from a pressure container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of different dispensing flow rates, the combination which comprises means for mounting said valve apparatus at the top of said container, a valve stem extending from inside said container to the outside thereof, said Valve stem being axially movable from an open dispensing position in which said stem is partially depressed within said container to a closed position in which said valve stem extends out of said container, an axial ow passage in said valve stem having an outer end forming a discharge opening for fluid dispensed from said container and an inner end adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed within said container, a plurality of axially spaced outlet ports in said valve stem and disposed adjacent said inner end thereof in ow communication with said axial passage, said ports being axially disposed and spaced on said valve stem to be sequentially brought into ow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage as said valve stem is depressed into said open dispensing position and sequentially closed as said valve stem is moved axially outwardly into closed position, a plurality of axially spaced abutments on said valve stem and disposed inwardly of said container from said ports, a plurality of resilient biasing means within said container sequentially engaging said abutments to urge said valve stem outwardly, the force with which said biasing means engage said abutments significantly increasing as each successive said biasing means sequentially engages each successive abutment for producing a tangible difference at each said engagement of the force necessary to depress said valve stem against the biasing action of said biasing means, and the axial spacing of each said abutment along said valve stem and the point of contact thereof with each successive said biasing means being correlated with the axial spacing of said outlet ports whereby a tangible difference in the force necessary to depress said valve stem is produced before said valve stem is sufliciently depressed within said container to open each successive said outlet port for flow therethrough of fluid from within said container through said port and out said passage in said valve stern.

5. In dispensing valve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a fluid from a pressure container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of different dispensing ow rates, the combination which comprises means for mounting said valve apparatus at the top of said container and including resilient sealing means, a valve stem penetrating said sealing means and extending from inside said container to the outside thereof, said valve stem being axially movable with respect to said sealing means from an open dispensing position in which said stem is partially depressed within said container to a closed position in which said valve stem extends out of said container, an axial flow passage in said valve stem having an outer end forming a discharge opening for fluid dispensed from said container and an inner end adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed within said container, a plurality of axially spaced outlet ports in said valve stem and ydisposed adjacent said inner end thereof in ow communication with said axial passage, said ports being axially disposed and spaced on said valve stem to be sequentially brought into flow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage as said valve stern is depressed into said open dispensing position and sequentially'closed by said resilient sealing means as said valve stem is moved axially outwardly into 4closed position, a plurality of axially spaced abutments on said valve stem and disposed inwardly of said container from said ports, a plurality of resilient biasing means within said container sequentially engaging said abutments upon depressing of said valve stem to urge said valve stem outwardly, the force with which said biasing means engage said abutments signifi-cantly increasing as each successive said biasing means sequentially engage each successive abutment for producing a tangible difference at each said engagement of the force necessary to depress said valve stem against the biasing action of said biasing means, and the axial spacing of each said abutment along said valve stem and the'point of contact thereof with each successive said biasing means being correlated with the axial spacing of said outlet ports with respect to said resilient sealing means whereby a tangible difference in the force necessary to depress said valve stem is produced before said valve stern is suiciently depressed within said container to open each successive said outlet Vport for flow therethrough of fluid from within said container through said port and out said passage in said valve stem.

6. In an apparatus of the character described for controlling the ow rate of liquids dispensed from a pressurized container, the combination which comprises a sealed top closure, a valve body disposed in said container and adjacent said top,v a stem extending from said valve body and through said sealed top With'a channel running axial- 1y therethrough to an ejection nozzle at the top thereof, two` ports disposed axially along said stem and providing flow communication between said channel and said valve body depending upon the position of said stem through said sealed top, two abutments disposed axially along said stem below said hollow channel, first springmeans engaging one of said abutments for biasing said stem outwardly of said valve body, second spring means coaxially disposed with said rst spring means and engaging the other said abutment for additional biasing of said stem outwardly of said valve body, said lirst spring means providing resistance to pressure applied to said stem for moving it axially toward said valve body and bringing lone of said radial ports into ow communication with said valve body to provide a first ow rate from said stem7 and said second spring means oiering a tangible increase in resistance to pressure applied to said stem as it is moved further axially toward said valve body bringing the second of said radial portsinto flow communication with said valve body thus increasing the flow rate of liquid to be dispensed through said stem and said ejection nozzle.'

7. Apparatusas recited in claim 6 in which said ports are of equal diameter so that bringing the second port into flow communication with said valve body will double the flow rate from that flowing in said rst ow rate.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which said port disposed on said stem nearest to said valve body is twice the size of the said other port so that bringing the second port into flow communication with said valve body will triple the flow rate from that tlowing'in said rst flow rate.

9. In dispensing valve apparatus of the character described for controlling the dispensing of a fluid from a pressure -container therefor under the action of a propellant in said container and selectively at a plurality of different dispensing flow rates, the combination which comprises a valve stem extending from inside said container ,8v to the outside thereof, said valve stem being movable from an open dispensing position in which said stern is partially depressed within said container to a closed posii tion in which said valve sterny extends out of said container, an axial flow passage in said valve stem having an outer end forming adischarge opening for fluid dispensed from said container and an inner end adjacent the end of said valve stem which is disposed Within said container, outlet port means through said valve stem and in flow communication between the inside of said container and said axial flow passage when said valve stem is in an open dispensing position, said outlet port means being disposed axially along said valve stem for successively increasingr the open cross-sectional area of said port means as said valve stem is depressed into said open dispensing position and successively decreasing said cross-sectional area as said valve stem ismoved axially outwardly into closed position, rst biasing means urging said valve stem outwardly into closed position, and second biasing means for increasing tangibly in step-wise manner the force necessary to depress said valve stem in at least one intermediate depressed position thereof a point where substantially less effective cross-section of said outlet port means is in flow communication between the interior of said container and said axial passage in said valve stem.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,583 4/1938 Adams 222-514 X 2,347,779 k5/1944 Heath 251-210 X 2,699,885 1/1955 Mcciure 222-514 X 2,862,648 12/1958 Cooksley et a1.

2,902,054 9/1959 McCulloch 251-210 2,914,222 11/1959 Meshberg 239-342 X 3,195,569 7/1965 seaquist 251-353 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN DISPENSING VALVE APPARATUS TO THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR CONTROLLING THE DISPENSING OF A FLUID FROM A PRESSURE CONTAINER THEREOF UNDER THE ACTION OF A PROPELLANT IN SAID CONTAINER AND SELECTIVELY AT A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT DISPENSING FLOW RATES, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID VALVE APPARATUS AT THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER, A VALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM INSIDE SAID CONTAINER TO THE OUTSIDE THEREOF, SAID VALVE STEM BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE FROM AN OPEN DISPENSING POSITION IN WHICH STEM IS PARTIALLY DEPRESSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER TO A XLOSED POSITION IN WHICH SAID VALVE STEM EXTENDS OUT OF SAID CONTAINER, AN AXIAL FLOW PASSAGE IN SAID VALVE STEM HAVING AN OUTER FORMING A DISCHARGE OPENING FOR FLUID DISPENSED FROM SAID CONTAINER AND AN INNER END ADJACENT THE END OF SAID VALVE STEM WHICH DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF SPACED OUTLET PORTS IN SAID VALVE STEM AND DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID INNER END 